Morning journal and courier., 1887-02-21
THE GOOD sAmAR1rANs.

An Eloquent Address Last Night by
Hon. Lynde Harr1son-Other Fea-
lures of the Programme.
The Good Samaritans Hall was crowded
to overlooking last night at their meeting
notwithstanding the stormy weather, and
many who came went away unable to find
room. President William H. Conklin pae-
sided. DIR. Charles Vishno was the opening
speaker and gave a very interesting talk.
He directed his remarks particularly to the
youngsabout starting in life and the necessity
and Importance of forming correct habits and
especially warning against the promis cuous
effects of strong drink.
Judge Lynde Harrison spoke for about
forty minutes. making address of rare in
terest, which was listened to with the most
perfect attention by his hearers and with
marked pleasure. Only a verbatim report
would do justice to the speakers remarks.
In opening he warmly commended the Good
Samaritans' society for the large amount of
good it had done and then spoke of the evil
of intemperance it had been impressed
upon his attention while he occupied the
bench of New Ravens City court and he had
taken some part in the legislation on the
subject. Judge Harrison then said that all
The FIST were those who were and always
had been total abstainers. Most of this class
owed their temperance principles to good
training and home influences and sound
physical constitutions.
The second class were those who used
liquor occasionally, but moderately. The
conditions to which they had been exposed
were favorable to temperance and they were
sufficiently strong mentally, morally and
physically to resist temptation, but they ran
a big risk, and after passing middle age were
apt to yield to drink owing to physical de-
cay, though many passed the crisis safely.
The third class were those who having
yielded to the slavery of drink broke the
chains, took the total abstinence pledge and
by force of will became free. These deserve
great praise; they conquer themselves.
The speaker then gave history of the
formation of temperance societies and move
ments which have been carried on for the
past fifty or sixty years. He cited several
illustrations to show the use of liquor among
the well-to do and virtuous and the religious
societies in the past century and the first
third of this century, and compared the
practices and habits of people in good soci-
ETY. then to the present practices of people
who are ranked as religious and respectable
in society now. 1t showed great growth of
the temperance sentiment and asserted that
throughout the religious and educated class
es it is no longer fashionable or even decent
to use liquor in the free way which prevailed
before the formation of the temperance So
cieties the modern growth of temperance
sentiment. He gave brief account of the
temperance legislation in this country since
1S40 and in Sweden, Germany, Great Brit
ain, France and Russia since 1855.
While the statistics show increase of
liquor drank, this increase is very largely
amongst the very poor, who are tempted to
use liquor as a relief to their suffering and
poverty. The speaker thought the temper
ance societies should endeavor to extend
their work to reach the downt1 odden among
the poor Those interested in temperance
reform should not take pessimistic view of
the subject of intempe1sncc because of the
statistics the subject. The temperance
reform has come to stay. 1t would probably
take generations to drive out all the evils of
The use of alcoholic stimu-
lants is imbedded in the very nature of man.
1t is inherited from ancestors who have used
sands of years. Like all great reforms
it takes a long time to accomplish
81 eat results. The temperance reform is not
yet seven years old. But it is in the hands
of God and like all reforms under his guild
ance it will be crowned with success because
OF the work done Dy MS instruments ana So
cieties, like the Good Samaritan society, who
are sowing the seed of which the full and
ripened harvest cannot be garnered until
generations yet unborn shall come to take
our places.
In response to President Conklin's invita-
ton rlany came forward and signed the
pledge.
The exercises were varied by excellent
music by Mr.. Fitzgerald upon the organ and
singing by Brother Chris Mooney, while Vice
President Carl Bergman very finely gave
recitation.